Two down.....

Six to go!!!

~Warning: this post is LOADED with pictures~

Well, she did it!  Daughter #2 is an official high school graduate!!!

Our big celebration began with a tradition called Class Day.  It's a time for the school to honor the seniors with special awards, slideshows, etc; as well as a time for the graduates to practice for the actual graduation ceremony.

Here we are entering the school to attend Class Day....Allie immediately found a buddy ;D

The ceremony was exactly like Allie's from last year & was held in the gym....

My mom was there with us (we picked my dad up at the airport just after the ceremony)....

The graduating seniors came into the gym after passing through the junior class who lined up in the courtyard to congratulate them as they made their way.....

There's our Emily!

Inside the gym....

Now I'm going to get slightly out of order as I ended up using pictures that my mom took in addition to my own, so I'm dealing with lots of folders ;D

Here's Em's cake.....

It was to die for!  We got it from the same place we got both Allie's grad cake and my baby shower cake for Caleb from....pricey, but worth it!!

The next set of pictures is from Em's grad party.  We had it at a local park since we were staying in a hotel while we were there.....

The weather was perfect, but the wind coming off of the lake really prohibited me from doing the decorating I had hoped to do!

We had a western theme, and here is one of the chocolate bars we had made for the party :D

The table I tried to set up.....but the wind had other ideas!

While I was setting up for guests, Emily was off with our older kids, my dad, my hubby & some of her close friends for a game of paintball ;D

She told everyone she wanted to have something to show off when it was all over......

.....and they were happy to oblige!  

And that's just ONE of the many welts- and not the worst either!

Here's some of the crew....

And now we're jumping back to Class Day- these are some of the pictures my mom snapped!

Matthew looks like he's up to no good ;D

Emily & good family friend Mitch!

Emily & best theater tech buddy Adam!

Mitch & Allie- we're gonna miss this guy :(

Me, Emily, Mitch & his mom (and one of my DEAREST friends) Mimi!

~We love you guys!~

Here's just a cute shot of a double-lollipop-fisted Caleb ;D

The girls decorated the van for Emily :D

And now we're at the actual day of graduation.  Here's the gang with my dad.....

Emily & my parents!

Emily, Caleb & grampa :D

My parents and the gang!

Emily & her proud parents ;D

They flashed these tributes to the seniors up in the middle of the arena on a big screen while waiting for the ceremony to begin.....

Just after receiving her diploma!!!

Jacob was slightly bored with commencement ;D

Emily with Courtney & Lauryn!

Emily & best friend Courtney!!

Sophie and Lauryn :D

Zack entertaining the boys after the ceremony!

Allie thinks she's a super model ;D

Our van the morning we were leaving Kansas for the last time.......

very sad day for us all :(